Reinforcement for heels of boots and shoes



Dec. 2, 1941.

H. COLBURN REINFORCEMENT FOR HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES Filed Dec.' 7, 1940 NVENT R1 Ham-v1 Co LBURN FITTORN 5y Patented Dec. 2, 1941 REINFORCEMENT FOR HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES Harry Colburn, Kingswood, Bristol, England Application December '7, 1940, Serial No. 368,986 In Great Britain April 21, 1939 1 Claim.

This invention relates to reinforcement for heels of boots and shoes and the object of the invention is to provide a reinforcement for the heels of boots and shoes which is both simple to manufacture and to incorporate in the heel.

According to this invention the reinforcement comprises a strip of angle metal adapted to be bent into a curved shape for the purpose of attaching it to the edge of the top piece of a heel, the said reinforcement being L-shaped in cross section, one limb of the L comprising a plurality of teeth, some or all of said teeth being bent substantially at right angles to said teeth to provide claws for the purpose of biting into the surface of the top piece.

The end teeth of the reinforcing strip may be provided with apertures for nails or screws, the claws in said teeth being dispensed with,

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of reinforcement drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is a view of the reinforcement applied to the heel of a boot or shoe;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification; and

Fig. 4 is an underneath perspective View of a further modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the reinforcement is about 3" long and is formed from a steel strip L-shaped in cross section comprising a vertical limb I and a horizontal limb 2. A plurality of teeth 3 and 4 are stamped out from the horizontal limb 2 of the L and the strip is then bent to the curve of the rear of a top piece of a heel. The two end teeth 4 are somewhat larger than the intermediate teeth 3 and are provided with apertures 5 for nails or the like. Each intermediate tooth 3 is provided with a claw B bent at right angles to the tooth.

In use, the reinforcement is cut from a straight member and subsequently bent to any desired curve. The top piece I of a heel is cut away for a distance round the back to receive the reinforcement. The reinforcement is placed in the cut away portion with the teeth 3 and 4 on the surface of the top piece, and the portion 1 of the reinforcement extending round the back of the top piece 1 for a depth equal to the thickness of the top piece. The prongs or claws 6 on the teeth 3 are made to bite into the material of the top piece. The free edge of the limb I forms the treading surface.

In another alternative illustrated in Fig. 3 the reinforcement extends round the whole rear portion of the top piece so that the heel is edged by the reinforcement.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 some of the teeth 3 are formed without the claws 6 and the end teeth 4 instead of being provided with nail holes 5 are each provided with a claw 6. The total number of claws in the modification illustrated is 4.

Instead of the reinforcement being L-shaped in cross section it may be of channel section, the free sides of the channel being formed by teeth.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A reinforcing plate for shoe heels comprising a curved metal strip of L-shaped cross section having a vertical leg engageable against the vertical surface of a shoe heel and having a horizontal leg engageable against the bottom lift of the shoe heel at its curved periphery, said horizontal leg being provided along its edge with a series of closely spaced V-shaped projections having their bases integral with the strip and having their pointed ends extending parallel to said vertical leg, said horizontal leg further having widened projections at the ends of the series each provided with a nail receiving opening.

HARRY COLBURN. 

